USA Wrestling Releases New National Freestyle Rankings

This week USA Wrestling released new national rankings, and three Iowans sit atop their respective weight classes. Leading the 57 kg class is 2014 World Team member Tony Ramos who is looking to be the first wrestler to repeat at the lightest weight class since Henry Cejudo accomplished the feat in 2007 and 2008. Ramos recently defeated Cejudo at the AGON V event, and is showing some real strides on the mat.

Brent Metcalf is the top 65 kg wrestler, but his weight class has gotten noticeably tougher from a year ago. 18-year-old phenom Aaron Pico will look to challenge Metcalf, with their last meeting being a 4-1 match won by Metcalf at AGON. Jordan Oliver will also continue to push Metcalf as will four-time NCAA champion Logan Stieber who is also expected to be in the field. Metcalf is looking to make his third straight World Team.

The final Iowa sitting in the #1 spot is 2012 Olympic gold medalist and reigning World Team member Jake Varner at 97 kg. Varner remains one of the best wrestlers in the world at his weight, but Junior World silver medalist Kyle Snyder is expected to make the jump to the senior team and will try to push Varner off the top spot.

Also ranked by USA is former Hawkeyes Matt McDonough (57 kg) who jumps up to #2, #10 Derek St. John (70 kg) who makes his debut, and #7 Phil Keddy (86 kg); current Hawkeye wrestler Cory Clark (61 kg) is also ranked at #9. Cyclone Wrestling Club is represented with #5 Angel Escobedo (57 kg), #6 Deron Winn (86 kg), and #9 Matt Gibson (97 kg), as well as former Cyclones #9 Cyler Sanderson (70 kg), #9 Jon Reader (86 kg), #10 David Zabriskie (97 kg). #4 Joe Colon (57 kg) and #7 Moza Fay are the only two former Panthers ranked. Former Grand View Viking Eric Thomspon is ranked #8 at 125 kg, and Jarod Trice not only is ranked in Greco-Roman, but earns the #10 spot in the freestyle 125 kg rankings.